34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



enabled to enjoy what has been heretofore a luxury almost 

 beyond their reach." 



In an article of more recent date, the same writer says of 

 the present price of butter, " that it is the highest ever known 

 in this country." This remark is true upon the gold basis. 

 In the short space of three months we have witnessed an un- 

 precedented rise of dairy products. In four weeks, cheese 

 advanced in price from a hundred to a hundred and twenty- 

 five per cent. • 



The price of butter did not advance so quickly, or as 

 much, as the price of cheese, but has advanced in the course 

 of two months some sixty per cent. 



The Boston Produce Exchange and the New- York Prod- 

 uce Exchange, both of which are official reports of the mar- 

 kets in their respective cities, say that the rise in price of 

 these products has been unprecedented in the memory of 

 the oldest dealer in the trade. 



The New-Ycrk report says, concerning this rapid advance, 

 " that it cannot be wholly accounted for, but that there are 

 some reasons for it," naming the following : "• The exports 

 since the 1st of January have been twice as large as for the 

 same time last year, and the consumption, both East and 

 West, has considerably increased, while the make has been 

 considerably curtailed during the dry weather of autumn." 

 There are, it says, no large stocks held in this vicinity, so 

 far as we can learn ; and the indications are, that higher 

 prices will continue to rule for the remainder of the year. 

 And this is the encouraging feature to dairymen all over 

 the country, who were, in consequence of the continued low 

 prices for all dairy products, becoming despondent and dis- 

 couraged. Goods brought in market less than their cost 

 of manufacture ; and, if continued at the same rate, many 

 would be obliged to give up the business. 



A large share of the receipts of butter in the Boston mar- 

 ket comes from the West. It is but a short time since the 

 butter-makers of New England held the leading position as to 

 reputation and prices ; but to-day the sceptre has departed. 

 The product of the Western creameries commands more in 

 the market than the Eastern dairy-make. At the Interna- 

 tional Dairy Fair held in New- York City a year since, the 

 State of Iowa won the highest laurels for butter exhibit. It 



